Racing amusement device



une 30% 1936.. c. W. MUSSER RACING AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 1935 ATTORNEY Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in amusement racing devices.

It relates particularly to the type of amusement devices in which iigures simulating horses carrying jockeys are mounted on carriers that are independently advanced to a nishing position, and are then simultaneously retracted to a starting position.

The invention relates more particularly to the type in which each carrier is reciprocative on a ba-r on which it is advanced by intermittent movements by a locking member which is moved forwardly by a pawl which is intermittently engaged and forwardly moved by a reciprocative ratchet member, the locking member being normally automatically moved to a position in locking engagement with the bar on which it and the carrier are slidably mounted, resetting means being provided for retracting the carriers and the gures carried thereby to the starting position after the nish of a race.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide novel means actuated by the retracting means for moving the locking member from the locking position when the retracting means moves to retract the carrier to the starting position, thereby reducing to a minimum the wear on the locking member, the locking of which to the supporting bar is eiected by tilting the locking member to a cramping position on the bar, the object of which locking is to hold the carrier from overrunning after each advancing impulse has been discontinued.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a mechanism of the kind described which is simple, strong, durable, not likely to get out of order, which is readily applicable to racing devices now in use, and which is efficient in operation. This application discloses but does not claim subject matter disclosed in an application led by me April 26, 1935, Ser. No. 18,294, for a Racing amusement mechanism; and an application led by me May 31, 1935, Ser. No. 24,270, for a Racing amusement device.

The novel features of my invention are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment and a modication of my invention,

Fig. l is a side view partly in elevation, 4partly in vertical section and partly broken away, of the preferred embodiment of my invention, showing the locking member locked to the supporting bar.

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view of what is shown in Fig. 1, the racing iigure (Cl. L1li-4.27)

member, and which through the latter eiTects the advancing movement of the carrier.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 1, some parts being broken away and others shown in vertical section, of a modification of the means for releasing the locking member from locked engagement with the supporting bar.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 'l-l of Fig. 6.

Similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the different views.

The type of amusement racing device with which my invention is adapted for use comprises a plurality of carriers supporting figures simulating, for example, race horses with jockeys thereon, the carriers being reciprocatively sliding on horizontal parallel bars, between starting and finishing positions. The carriers are respectively independently intermittently advanced by parallel reciprocative ratchet member respectively engaging pawls arranged to respectively advance the carriers.

A single transverse resetting or retracting member releases the pawls from the ratchet members and pushes the carriers back to the starting position after the iinish of each race.

As the sets of carriers and their accompanying operating parts are duplicates, but one set of each of the two forms of my invention is shown in the drawing.

I designates a horizontal supporting bar, a portion only of which is shown. The bar I eX- tends through the two arms 2 and 3 of an inverted U shaped carrier which is reciprocative lengthwise of and on the bar l, and the horizontal portion 4 of which supports a post 5 on the upper end of which is mounted a racing gure 6 simulating a horse carrying a jockey.

For advancing the carrier forwardly, to the right in Fig. 1, step by step, the following described mechanism is employed.

An upright locking member comprising a plate 1 has a hole 8 through which extends the bar l. The upper end of the member 'l extends into a hole 9 in the horizontal portion 4 of the carrier. The locking member 'I when vertically disposed, as in Fig. 2, is in the unlocked position and in Ill one end of which bears against the aren 3 and the other end of Vwhich bears against and swings Ythe plate or locking member 'I to the eramped locking position, shown in Fig. l. In such position the locking member 'I holds the carrier from moving to the right, as viewed Fig. l', or iorwardly, after the advancing impulse operating on the carrier has ceased, thus preventing the carrierV from forward skidding n the bar l To limit the forward swingingA of the locking Ymember l to the verticalirelease position, the arm 3 is extended rearwardlyunder the bar I, forming a stop against which themember 'I strikes, Fig. 2.

For sliding the carrier and the Ylocking member 'l4 forwardly, there 'is disposed below the bar I an-d'parallel therewith 'la longitudinally reciprocative ratchet member comprising a bar ll the upper edge of which is provided with a longitudinal row of ratchet teeth l2 adapted lto be'` engaged by the lcwer 'end of a pawl I3, the upper Vend of which has two ngers- I4 separated by a notch. t5 and pivoted in a recess I6 in the lower endV of'the member l on a transverse pintle I? mounted horizontally in the member l. i

A coilY spring I8. encircling thepintle ITI has one end portion bearing against the rearside of the `member l, the other end portion of the spring I8 bearing on the upper side of the Ypavvl I3,

Vand normally exertingY a tension which swings the pawl I3 into operative engagement ewith the teeth I2 of the ratchet member Il. f

'Ihe lower end ofr the arm 2 ofthe carrier has a longitudinal slot I5 through which extend Vthe ratchet member Il andthe pawl I 3, Figs.

-tracting or resetting member' comprising a bar 2G, which is reciprocated by means, not shown, in ahorizontal Yplane disposedbetween the ratchet member I I and the lower end of the locking member 7.

In both forms. of my invention, whenY the pawl I3 is engaged with the ratchet member I I and the latter moves forwardly, the pawl I3 will push forwardly the looking member l from the locking position, shown in Fig. land in dotted lines in Fig., 6, tloiusswinging` the locking member to ase position in whicheit is in Contact with the rearward extension ot the arm 3, thiis pushing the carrier forwardly while the ratchet member II is moving forwardly. WhenV the ratchet member stops its forward movement, the spring l@ will force the locking member 'I into the locking position, shown in Fig.V 1 and in dotted linesin Fig. 6.

Thelocking member l will thus hold the carrier from skidding forwardly after the forwarding impulse has ceased. n Y

' So far as has been described, the two forms of my invention are alike', the difference between Ythe two forms being in the means by which the locking member is released from locked engagement withV the bar I. I

In the form shown Figs. l to 5, an angular lever 2| is pivoted by a horizontalpin 22 to and Y in Fig. V6.

between a U shaped bracket 23 having threaded portion Zl extended through a hole in the carrier arm 2 above the slot i9. A nut 25 on the outer side of the arm 2 and on the threadedportion 24 clamps the bracket 2s to theY inner side of the BIH). 2. if

The lower portion of theY leiter 2i extends into a slot 2li provided lengthwise in the pawl I3, Figs. 2 and 5. To the upper end of the lever' 2i is pivoted on a horizontal pin the rear end of a channel like member 23 the forward portion of which extends intog the notch Yi5 and rests on the pawl I3.

Normally the member 28 is separated from the locking member ll, as in Fig. l. tracting member 2) moves rearwardly to retract the carrier, after the nish of a race, the member 20 will strike the under side of the pawl l 3 and lift it: clear of the teeth l2 of the ratchet member II. On its continued rearward movement, the member 2@ will strikeithe under side of the lever 2l below the pin 22, thus swinging the upperpart of Ythe VlevergZI forwardly which will move the member '2B into engagement with the rear side of the locking member l, forcing the latter forwardly fromthe locking position, shown in Fig. l tothe release position shown in Fig; 2. will then be retractedrearwardly by the member 2K3 witha minimum of drag and wearl upon the locking'member l. 5 e

When. the member .2S stops its rearward move'- mentand'startsforwardlmthe coil spring I0' will Vswing the member I and through it the member When the re- The carigierV 23 and lever 2l to their normal positions and the spring I8 will reengage the,Y pawl with the ratchet member II.

In the form shown'in Figs.Y 6 and 7, two levers 29 are pivoted by a horizontal transverse pin 3!) to the horizontal portion 4 ef thecarrier. -The levers 29 are disposed at opposite sides ofthe arm 2 of the carrierand are respectively pivoted to two forwardly ertendinglinks 3! Vwhich are respectively pivoted to two leversr32 pivoted by a horizontal transverse pin 32 to the inner side of the arm 3 of the carrier. The levers 32 below Vthe pin 33am respectively pivoted'to one setof ends of twoy links 34, the rear ends of which are pivoted to the pintlei I1 to which the upper end of the pawl I3'is pivoted.

Normally the spring lil forces the locking mem- 'fill ber to the locking position shown in dotted lines The levers 29 are then disposed yerticaily as shown in dotted lines` in Fig. 6. When the YVretracting member 2i! moves rearwardly and strikes and lifts the pawl I3 out of engagement with the ratchet member li, it will strikefthe levers 29 and swing Ythem rearwardly to Ythe position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6,A thus through the links 3i, levers 32 a'id links 31', swinging the locking member I forwardly to the release position shown in solid lines in Fig. 6, thus permittingthe retracting member 20 to force rearwardly the carrier without resista-nce from the locking member l, thereby avoiding undue wear on the latter.

It will be noted that the Vlevers 2i and 29 are actiiated'by the member Zito release the locking member?l before the member 2s forces the carrier rearwardly. i Y j Thus it will beseen that when the parts are disposedas in Fig. fl, tlfielockingmemberv 'IV will be in the locking inclined position, to which it has been forced thel spring IIJ.` When the ratchet member I I moves to the right, as viewed in Fig, l, it beingengaged with the pawl I3, will Ymove the latter'to the right, thus forcing the locking member to the right against the projec- |position, shown in Fig. 1, thus stopping the movement of the carrier to the right and preventing its forward skidding, due to its momentum.

Y After the carrier has been moved to the right by the reciprocation of the ratchet member Il 'to the finishing position, the retracting member 2! is Vmoved to the left, thus lifting and disengaging the pawl I3 from the ratchet bar I I and then engaging and swinging the lever so as to force the member 23 against the locking men ber, the member 28 pushing the locking member to the release position, shown in Fig. 2. The continued movement of the retracting member 29 will then, by engagement with the lever ZI and the carrier, force the latter to the left to the starting position, upon which the retracting member 2S is again moved to the extreme right to its initial position. The spring Iii will then force the locking member 'i to the inclined locking position, and the spring I8, and the gravity of the pawl I3 will swing the latter downwardly into operative engagement with the ratchet member II, thus completing a cycle of operations.

Many modifications of my invention, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim isz- 1. In a device of the kind described having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member engaging and movable with said carrier and slidable on said bar and movable thereon to and from locking engagement therewith, a reciprocative ratchet member, a pawl engaging said locking member and adapted to move the latter and said carrier forwardly on said bar and engageable with and movable forwardly by said ratchet member, and means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet member and for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of a releasing member movable in one direction by said retracting means when the latter is moved to retract said carrier, and means for forcing the locking member from the locking position when said releasing member is moved in said direction.

2. In a device of the kind described having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member engaging and movable with said carrier and slidable on said bar and movable thereon to and from locking engagement therewith, a reciprocative ratchet member, a pawl engaging saidlocking member and adapted to move the latter and said carrier forwardly on said bar and engageable with and movable forwardly by said ratchet member, and means for disengaginfT said pawl from said ratchet member and for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of a lever engageable and movable in one direction by said retracting means when the latter is moved to retract said carrier, and means actuated by said lever when moved in said direction for fo-rcing the locking member from the locking position.

3. In a device of the kind described having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member locking engagement therewith, a reciprocative ratchet member, a pawl engaging said locking member and adapte-d to move the latter and said carrier forwardly on said bar and engageable with and movable forwardly by said ratchet member, and means for disengag'mg said pawl from said ratchet member and for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of a spring normally forcing said locking member to the locking position, a` releasing member movable in one direction by said retracting means when the latter is moved to etract said carrier, and means actuated by said releasing member when the latter is moved in said direction for forcing said locking member from the locking position.

Li. In a device of the kind described, having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member engaging and movable with said carrier and slidable on said bar and movable thereon to and from locking engagement therewith, a reciprocative ratchet member, a pawl engaging said locking member and adapted to move the latter and said carrier forwardly on said bar and engageable with and movable forwardly by said ratchet member, and means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet member and for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of a releasing member pivoted to said carrier and disposed in the path of said releasing means and movable in one direction thereby when said retracting means is moved to retract said carrier, and means actuated by said releasing member when moved in said direction for forcing the locking member from the locking position.

5. In a device of the kind described having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member engaging and movable with said carrier and slidable on said bar and movable thereon to and from looking engagement therewith, a reciprocative ratchet member, a pawl engaging said locking member and adapted to move the latter and said carrier forwardly on said bar and engageable with and movable forwardly by said ratchet member, and means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet member and for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of a lever pivoted to said carrier `and engageable by said retracting means and movable in one direction when the latter moves to retract said carrier, and a member pivoted to said lever and when the latter is moved r in said direction engaging and moving said locking member from the locking position.

6. In a device of the kind described having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member engaging and movable with said carrier and slidable on said bar and movable thereon to and from locking engagement therewith, a reciprocative ratchet member, a pawl engaging said locking member and adapted to move the latter and said carrier forwardly on said bar and engageable with and movable forwardly by said ratchet member, and means for disengaging said pawl from said ratchet member and for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of a lever pivoted to said carrier and engageable by said retracting means and movable thereby in one direction when said retracting means is moved to retract said carrier, a second lever pivoted to said carrier, a link pivoted to said levers, and a link pivoted to said second lever and to said locking member and adapted to move the latter from the locking position when said first named lever is moved in said direction.

'7. In a device of the kind described having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member engaging and movable with said carrier and slid- Vable on said bar and movable thereon to and from engaging and movablewith said carrier and recipirocative on said bar and movable thereon to and from locking engagement therewith, a reciprocative ratchet member, a pawl engaging said locking member and adapted to move the latter and carrier forwardly when said pawlV is moved in one direction, said pawl normally engaging and being adapted toV be moved in said direction by said ratchet member, and means for disengaging said pawl from' said ratchet member and for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of means actuated by said retracting means for releasing said'locking member from locking engagement with said bar prior to the rearward movement of said carrier.

8. In a device of thev kind described having a. carrier reciprocative onV a bar, a locking member engaging and movable with said carrier on said Y bar and movable on the latter to and from locking engagement therewith, means for engaging and moving said locking member, and with it Said carrier, forwardly, and means for retracting said carrier rearwardly, of means actuated by said retracting means and independently of the retraction of said'carrier for moving said locking member out of locking engagement with said bar.

9. In a device of the kind described having a carrier reciprocative on a bar, a locking member engagingV and movable with said carrier on Vsaid bar and movable on the lattertoy and from locking engagement therewith, means normally forcing said locking memberinto said locking engagement, means for moving said locking member, and with it said carrier, forwardly, and means for retracting said carrier and locking member rearwardly on said bar, of means actuated by said retracting means prior to the retraction of said carrier thereby for moving said locking member out of locking engagement with said bar.

CLARENCE W. MUSSER. 

